Improvement in canes



UNrrED STATESJPATENT OEEIoE,

GEORGE P. CLARKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CANES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,094, dated April 9,1878; application filed February 6, 1878.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. CLARKE, of New York city, county and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relatingto Canes, of which the following is a specification:

I have devised and practically wrought out the combination of a galvanicbattery with a cane, in such manner that the use of the cane induces agentle current of the uid through the palm of the hand. Y

I believe that a gentle electric current directed through thepeculiarlynervous structureV of the palm of the hand is capable ofproducing an important influence for good.

My improved cane is made with a head as large as is allowable forconvenient use as a cane, the thick part extending down a little way onthe body of the cane. I make this, by the introduction of proper parts,a dry battery, with the negative pole in the center of the top, and thepositive pole connected to the rim. The surface of the cane-head may becontinuous, the space between the two poles being .made of hard rubberor other suitable non-conductor.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical central section, and Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection, through the handle of my improved cane.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both the figures.

A is the body of the cane, and B metal top piece permanently fixedthereto. The piece B is increased in diameter above the cane A, and ismade hollow and screw-threaded on the exterior down to a shoulder, b, asshown. C is a peculiar cap, which forms the knob or head proper of thecane. It is screw-threaded on its interior, and adapted to t upon thescrew-threaded portion of B, and to match tightly' down upon theshoulder b. In the extreme top is a considerable orifice, which istightly closed by the aid of a knob or button of metal, E, surrounded bya ring of hard rubber, D. The surface of the central button E projectsconsiderably above the rubber D, which increases the certainty ofcontact of this part -between Ml and M2- with the hand when the cane isheld loosely. A metallic stem, e, projects downward from the button E,and in its lower end is formed an eye, which receives the bite of apiece of wire, G, which is doubled and sufficiently twisted to insureits retention. The wire Gr should be of springy material, and tend tostand' with its lower ends spread apart. M2 are hollow cylinders ofcopper, held out of contact with the inclosing-casing, tied together attheir upper edges by a metallic connection, m, When the cane is puttogether the doubled wire G is forced within the inner cylinder M1,itselasticity being certain to hold it in cont-act therewith. Thus both'thecopper cylinders Ml and M2 are in electric conneotion with thecentralbutton E. P1 P2 are hollow cylinders of sheet-zinc, of lesslength than the cylinders Ml M2. The zinc Pl lies The zinc P2 liesexterior to M2. These cylinders of zinc Il P2 rest on the base of thecavity in the part B. They insure an electric connection between theseparts and the main exterior of the cap Orhandle C of the cane. Acylinder of elastic woolen cloth, H,of proper diameter and thickness, isintroduced between each cylinder and the next-that is to say, one isbetween M1 and P1, another is between P1 and M2, and another is betweenM2 and P2, and a fourth is exterior to P2. All these are sufficientlythick and elastic to maintain a tolerably irm contact with theadjacentmetals, so as to not only excite galvanic action whenproperlyconditioned as to moisture, te., but also to mechanically hold the partsin position. The outer woolen piece H presses against the interior ofthe cavity in the part B, and the whole is incapable of any considerableamount of motion. No part can rattle when the cane is shaken; The woolenrings H should be drawnl up a little above the bottoms of the zinc ringsPl P2, while the copper rings M M2 should be drawn up above the loweredges of the adjacent fibrous rings H, so that the latter may closetogether below them, and insure that the copper is kept out of contactwith the bottom of the cavity.

On or-before applying the parts together the several pieces of fabric Hshould be moistened u ith salt-water. About the condition of ordinarysea-'water serves well ;y but'f it becomes considerably more salt fromevaporation or other cause, no harm results.

Modifications may be made7 especially by increasing` or diminishing thenumber of the plates. rlhis construction makes the battery peculiarlyeiiicient within the limited space available, and allows it to be very:easily taken apart and cleaned, or otherwise attended to.

The advantages of a dry battery in this position ywill be obvious fromthe liability of the cane when in use to be shaken and held in all kindsof positions.

A tight joint between the parts B and C is desirable for many reasons,one of which is to prevent or reduce evaporation from the moist fabric.The cane should at intervals be taken apart and the fabric Hremoistened.

The eiiect of a gentle galvanic current on the human organization is notin the present state of electrical and physiological science fullyexplained. My construction provides a peculiarly efficient battery in asmall space,

and to apply its force to a sensitive part of the system in connectionwith exercise, and consequently with a corresponding stimulus to theinsensible perspiration. f

fThe cane A may be the rod of an umbrella or parasol, or handle of anyportable tool or Weapon, as a policemans club or the like, it' desired.

Instead of salt-water, a solution of .bichromate of potash and sulphuricacid, or other proper acidulated solution, may be used.

My cane may be used in all respects like the ordinary cane. Itsfunctions as a battery for the relief or cure of diseases of the nerves,or that class which may be favorably affected by galvanic influences,are performed whenever the cane is grasped in the ordinary manner, sothat one part of the hand will be on the part C, and another part on theknob or button E.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a cane witha galvanic battery arranged in its head, as herein specified. t

. 2. The dry battery described,composed of the alternate rings M1 H P1 HM2 H l?2 H, in combination with the knob or button E, in-

sulating-ring D, andcap or cane-head C, and

adapted to apply on a cane orportable rod, A, as herein specified.

V In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE P. CLARKE.

Witnesses:

GHAs. C. STErsoN, J. K. OULAHAN.

